Emily in Paris is so back, but a curious dedication at the end of episode 10 has fans asking: Who was Diego Borella, and what happened to him?

The entire season dropped on December 18, and fans immediately cleared their schedules to binge every episode. So far, no one seems disappointed. Five seasons in, Emily in Paris is still serving up its signature mix of whimsy, style, and laugh-out-loud moments — proving the magic is very much alive.

Season 5 of Emily in Paris sees our plucky American heroine (played by Lily Collins) jet off to Rome, planning to spend six months with her new beau, Marcello. She seemingly leaves behind her on-off relationship with Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), as well as her favourite coworkers. But don’t fret, we see plenty of the whole crew, including Mindy (Ashley Park) with her new beau. There’s also newcomer Princess Jasmine (Minnie Driver) causing mayhem.

We won’t spoil all the juicy details just yet, but let’s just say hijinks ensue for everyone. The season wraps with enough romantic cliffhangers to make us want to shake Netflix until they spill the tea: Will there be a season 6 of Emily in Paris? And will it include wedding bells?

But just before the screen faded to black, the credits rolled and included one very specific name: Diego Borella. Fans are now asking: Who is he? What happened to Diego Borella? And why is he credited like this?

All will be revealed.

caroline dubois

Who was Diego Borella?

The season 5 finale ends with a dedication that reads: “In memory of Diego Borella.”

The tribute honours Diego Borella, a third assistant director on Emily in Paris, who tragically passed away in August at the age of 47 while filming season 5 in Italy. Not only did it happen during this period, but also at a filming location, impacting the cast and crew heavily.

Borella also worked on the Italian medical drama Doc – Nelle tue mani (In Your Hands), leaving behind a legacy in both Italian and international television.

What happened to Diego Borella?

According to La Repubblica, on-site medics tried to resuscitate Diego Borella at Venice’s Hotel Danieli, where a scene was set to be filmed, but he tragically passed away on the spot from a sudden heart attack. It impacted the cast and crew heavily, who were with him at the time. They were deep into filming the new season in Italy.